2012 pureCru Pinot noir

3g

Whenever we travel to Napa we like to see if Mitch is in town.  He was so we setup a tasting in the back tasting room.  Our friends Monica and Ralph joined us from North Carolina.  Ralph like Chris, is a big fan of Mitch and enjoys his wines.  We also order pizza’s next door from Oenotri.  Their flat bread pizzas are excellent and they always pair well with Mitch’s wines.  Mitch was having a birthday in a few days so he brought something special to share with us.  He brought a 1995 Rochioli Vineyards and Winery Chardonnay and one of his 1985 Cabernet Franc wines.  If my memory serves me the 1985 was the first year he produced Cabernet Franc.  Both wines were spectacular.

We tried all Mitch’s wines in the tasting room; including the 2011 Don Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Don Cabernet Sauvignon is very special and is a tribute to one of Mitch’s friends who lost his battle in life.  I cannot wait to revisit Don and write about it in the future.

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Sight
Medium color depth with a ruby hue.

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Smell
Moderate, young-fruity aromas of cherry, cranberry and spice.

Taste
Dy, medium-bodied with great acidity.  Medium soft tannins with a silky soft medium length mid-palate.

abv: 13.4%

How much: $36.00

Region/Appellation: California Los Carneros AVA.

Winemaker Notes: Hand punched cap fermented in one ton lots. Aged in French oak Burgundy barrels for 18 months (30% new) on the original lees that were occasionally stirred.

I rated the 2012 pureCru Pinot noir three glasses.

Life is too short to drink crappy wine.  Expand your palate and keep trying.

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